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Drake reportedly drops Future from tour

According to reports, Drake got Future booted from his upcoming arena tour over disparaging remarks. Future is said to be prepping a $1.5-million lawsuit against the multi-platinum star.

By Gerrick D. Kennedy

7:17 PM EDT, October 15, 2013

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Music industry rule No. 101: Never tick off the headliner inviting you on the road.

According to reports, Drake has dropped Future from his upcoming arena trek, a move that could turn into a $1.5-million feud between the two artists. The reason? Disparaging remarks the singsongy Atlanta rapper made about Drake’s latest album during an interview with Billboard, according to the New York Post.

In a conversation earlier this month to preview his forthcoming album, “Honest,” Future shared his thoughts on Drake’s latest chart-topper, “Nothing Was the Same,” with Billboard associate editor Erika Ramierz.

“Not only is future’s #honest album interesting, so are his thoughts on Drake’s #NWTS album,” Ramirez tweeted before quoting Future: “ ‘Drake made an album that is full of hits but it doesn’t grab you. They’re not possessive; they don’t make you feel the way I do.’ ”

Future didn’t just limit his strong opinions to his touring partner, however, and according to Ramirez, boasted that “I've been on the songs of all these rappers that put out an album, and my music is still better."

Future tweeted his disappointment in being “misquoted” and said he had love for Drake, and in fact the two have collaborated a number of times in the past, including the radio hit "Tony Montana." Although Billboard's story has since been edited to remove the specific remarks toward Drake, the tweets remain.

Nonetheless, the criticism didn’t sit too well with Drake, who had invited Future to share the bill on his 39-city trek (alluringly dubbed Would You Like a Tour?) along with alternative R&B crooner Miguel. The tour is scheduled to kick off Friday in Pittsburgh.

According to the Post, the multi-platinum rapper-singer demanded that Future be booted from the bill following the comments, and he was. However, negotiations soon began to bring him back late last week, but Future pulled out after Drake’s camp demanded he take a pay cut, according to the Post.

Future has reportedly prepped a lawsuit against Drake for lost wages of about $1.5 million.

Representatives for Drake declined to comment. A source close to the rapper’s camp told Pop & Hiss that he had added OVO artist PartyNextDoor and buzzy L.A.-based alt-R&B singer Jhene Aiko (although Aiko's addition came before the reported dust-up with Future), and that Drake was working on resolving the beef with Future before the start of the tour.

A spokesperson for Future said a statement would be issued shortly. Pop & Hiss will update the story as details are made available.